Touchable Holography

It does not get much more futuristic than this: a demo of holograms one can actually touch. The holographic tactile display uses ultrasound to exert a pressure field - for example, it will exert pressure on the surface of your palm when virtual raindrops fall on it.

Not only can objects in the holographic display be felt, but they can also react to touch.

One of the possible applications of this technology is for video games. The device makes use of a Wiimote-based hand-tracking system, which has already been the origin of a number of other gaming technology innovations.

The holographic tactile display is being developed by the Shinoda Lab, at the University of Tokyo.